Banjo’s Bakery Café is marking a significant milestone as it celebrates more than 200 years of combined service from eight of its most dedicated employees, highlighting the role of employee retention in the brand’s growth from a single Hobart bakery to a 51-unit national chain.
The honoured employees—Marcel Schnitzer, Trevor Curtis, Kelly Graves, Rod Saxby, Todd Ferguson, Jeremy Buckland, Nicholas Benjamin, and Richard Connell—each have more than 20 years with the company and have been instrumental in driving menu innovation and maintaining the brand’s community focus.
Marcel Schnitzer and Kelly Graves stand out among the group, having been with Banjo’s since its first Hobart location opened in the mid-1980s. Schnitzer, now the company’s Research and Development Manager, will celebrate 40 years with the business later this year, while Graves, who serves as Project Coordinator on the R&D team, marks 39 years.
“Back then, everything was paper-based, from recipe books to audits, and now we’ve got custom-built systems for recipes and point-of-sale. The growth has been exponential,” Schnitzer said.
Together, the pair now lead Banjo’s R&D team, creating menu items that have become customer favourites across the chain. Schnitzer’s influence extends to classics like the brand’s sausage rolls and Danish pastries, which originated in the first Hobart bakery and remain on menus nationwide.
For Graves, who started at Banjo’s after completing year 10, the company has provided opportunities for continuous growth without requiring a change in employers. “Some people change companies to gain new skills. I’ve gained them all within Banjo’s,” she said, noting that she has worked across almost every department during her tenure.
Both long-serving employees credit the company’s continuous evolution for their sustained engagement. “Banjo’s has never stayed stagnant. There’s always been growth, new challenges and new opportunities. It feels like a family here,” Graves said.
The other six employees being recognised include Trevor Curtis (39 years), Rod Saxby (37 years), Todd Ferguson (36 years), Jeremy Buckland (29 years), Nicholas Benjamin (28 years), and Richard Connell (28 years).
Banjo’s CEO Jessica Saxby emphasised that the milestone reflects the company’s people-first culture. “Banjo’s is all about people—our team, our families and the communities we serve. We’re proud to be a business where people can grow, take on new opportunities and be part of something bigger,” she said.
Founded in Tasmania in 1984, Banjo’s has grown to operate more than 51 stores across five Australian states, serving more than nine million customers annually. The company continues to seek new team members and franchisees to join its expanding network.
